Mount Pleasant leaders working to improve Shem Creek parking

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD)- If you pass by Shem Creek on a sunny day – you know it’s one of the most popular spots for locals and tourists.

The restaurants along the creek are packed with people eating, drinking, and enjoying the Lowcountry.

“Shem Creek is the most photographed area in Mount Pleasant. It’s the most hashtagged on social media,” the Mayor of Mount Pleasant, Will Haynie said.

Haynie says it’s also vital to the Mount Pleasant economy, “It’s the first impression people get when they come to Mount Pleasant. It’s critical to our business if you look at our tax revenue from there.”

However, that means the parking lots are also packed, and that’s creating trouble for many visitors.

Recently, town leaders say, locals and tourists have expressed concerns about the parking prices, as well as booting, and towing, saying it’s too expensive and takes too long to get the cars back or the boots removed.

“We don’t want some draconian parking practices to overshadow the welcoming feeling and southern hospitality that Shem Creek is known for,” Haynie said.

Michael Brown, the Operations Manager at Saltwater Cowboys says they don’t charge their guests for parking but will tow if someone is parking in their lot to go to a different restaurant.

“Our parking lot is free so we want that for our customers and not surrounding restaurants,” Brown said.

Another concern is parking for employees who work at Shem.

Mount Pleasant’s Transportation Committee met Monday morning and discussed employees parking in residential areas around Shem Creek to avoid having to pay for parking.

“I will say for other restaurants, not saltwater cowboys, it is definitely not a very big advantage. I’ve heard it kind of deters staff members,” Brown said.

Mayor Haynie says they’re working to create free spaces for employees as well as cap the towing and booting fee at $50.

“We can set what the good practices are when it comes to immobilizing someone’s vehicle or charging someone a fee for either the boot coming on or coming off,” Haynie said.

Haynie says they’ll continue to discuss solutions in their upcoming Transportation Committee meetings.